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However, none of the 72 trucks trucks paid the amount.Īccording to the 2014 Ghana Extractive Industries Index report, the Bauxite Company’s earnings increased by 16 percent from 28.5 million dollars in 2012 to 32.9 million dollars in 2013, due to an increase in shipment from 752,771 tonnes in 2012 to 826, 994 tonnes in 2013. Watch the first part of the report by Kwettey NarteyĪccording to the Ghana Highways, it is an offence not to pass through the weighbridge station and that attracts a penalty of 273 cedis. Those that used it were flagged to move on without being checked by highway officials. But only 15 passed through the weighing bridge. To verify these claims, the reporter pitched camp near the Agona Nkwanta weighing bridge in May 2017 and counted at least 87 trucks using the stretch between midnight and 3:00a.m. So for the day or the period that they are going to be around you will see six, seven, eight or less than 10 trucks as compared to the normal operation period of let’s say 80 to 100 trucks a day, so they would be using like 10 trucks just to deceive the public”. And from the Ghana Highways Authority, we get alerts, every journey, anytime they come on the road, they alert you guys that they are coming…So there are indications where the haulers have been told that ‘this time around we are going to load six buckets that should be normal so those six buckets would go. Waybills of vehicles that convey bauxite for the company sighted by Joy News reveal, trucks carry 90 tonnes of bauxite instead of 60 tonnes.Īsked how the bauxite company is able to overload without being questioned, the senior staff said they have insiders who alert them when highway authority sends mobile vans to check the practice on the road. For example, anything beyond 8.5 tonnes extra attract 5,000 cedis. Any weight beyond this limit attracts charges. The GHA’s acceptable weight for haulage trucks is 60 tonnes. Yes, you could say most of the contractors are not happy with it but, because it is coming from the top, they have no choice than to comply…,” the official said.
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“Overloading of bauxite at Awaso is a ritual which has been going on for a very long time. A top official of the company who pleaded anonymity claimed overloading of haulage trucks is normal. Last year, the Ghana Bauxite Company evaded penalty charges of 22 million dollars bringing the sum total to over 90 million dollars. In 2016, the penalty was 20.2 million dollars. In 2013, the records show the penalty fine was 10.3 million dollars, 2014 was 12.9 million dollars, while the figure for 2015 was 16.1 million dollars. After a year-long investigation, Joy News’ Kwetey Nartey found that the state lost 22 million dollars in 2017 year alone.ĭocuments obtained by Joy News reveal the GBC which is run by Chinese corporations through Bosai Minerals Groups in Western Region avoided paying over 8.2 million dollars in 2012 for overloading haulage trucks with bauxite. This was done in connivance with some officials of the Ghana Highways Authority (GHA) who operate the weigh-bridges. Joy News’s investigations have uncovered how the Ghana Bauxite Company (GBC) evaded the payment of penalty for overloading haulage trucks to the tune of more than 90 million dollars over a period of six years.